Fish nets record for teen

Sep. 5, 2012

This carpsucker was taken by Cody Chaney, 18. / Submitted photo

Written by

Missouri Department of Conservation

BELTON — Cody Chaney, 18, of Belton holds the new official Missouri state record for river carpsucker. Chaney was bow fishing with his father Terry, younger brother Brady and grandfather Bill Hill in a spring-fed cove at Lake of the Ozarks just after midnight May 27 when he struck something big.

“We didn’t realize it was a record, but we thought it had potential,” said Terry Chaney. “We actually thought it was a highfin carpsucker from the looks of the fish. But once we brought it to our conservation agent Phil Needham, he helped us figure out that we really had a river carpsucker.”

Cody’s catch weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long.

“Last year, we actually shot one that was bigger,” said Terry Chaney. “But it was late and we didn’t have enough ice to keep the fish alive, so it rotted.”

This time, the family was prepared and had a spare cooler with ice ready to hold any potential record fish.

Cody Chaney has been bow fishing for about three years and spends approximately 300 days a year enjoying the Missouri outdoors, either hunting or fishing.

“During the summer, whenever we have a free weekend, you’ll find us out bow fishing,” said Terry Chaney.

The river carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) is silvery, with a deep, thick body, a long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and whitish lower fins. It is also called “white carp,” “silver carp” and “quillback.” It is the most abundant carpsucker in Missouri.

Learn more about Missouri fishing records at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/reports/records.